Fearing the Lord - 6/24/2012

Ps. 34:11 “Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.”

As I said on Sunday morning, you guys are not “children” anymore; you are young adults, so although I do not normally condone re-writing scripture, for our purposes let’s say, “Come, ye ‘young men and young women’, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.”

What does it mean to “fear” the Lord?
When we talk about fear of the Lord, we mean “giving Him the respect He deserves.” It is similar to a fear of electricity. You shouldn’t be afraid to plug in your phone charger to an electrical outlet, but would you stick a fork into the same outlet? Or mix electricity and water? Electricity is powerful! Treat it with respect, or you might end up with a crazy new hair-do; or worse!

So why should I fear the Lord?
The Bible is filled with Scriptures that answer this question. I have categorized and listed a few of them below.

• Because the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom.
• Prov 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” 
• Ps 111:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments: His praise endureth forever.”
• Because the Lord is not an idol; but the creator of the universe.
• Ps 96:4 “For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols but the Lord made the heavens.”
• 1 Chr 16:25-26 “For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the people are idols: but the Lord made the heavens.”
• Because of the great things He has done for you.
• 1 Sam 12:24 “Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things He hath done for you.
• Ps 103:11-12 “For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.”
• Because He promises to help, to protect and to bless you.
• Ps 115:11 “Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: He is their help and their shield.”
• Ps 115:13 “He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great.”

How can I understand the fear of the Lord?
Prov 2:1-6 “My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.”

Contained in those six verses is a long list of things that we are supposed to do in order to understand the fear of the Lord. I have grouped them together to make them a little easier to pick out.

The first four can be summarized as “read your Bible, pay attention in our youth group meetings and in church, listen to the teaching of older Christians, etc…” They are:

• Receive my words
• Hide my commandments with thee
• Incline your ear unto wisdom
• Apply your heart to understanding

The next couple can be summarized as “pray and ask God for knowledge and understanding.” In the book of James we are told that God gives wisdom liberally to those who will ask.

• Cry after knowledge
• Lift up thy voice for understanding

The last one is by far the coolest.

• Seek after knowledge and understanding as if you were a treasure hunter in search of a buried treasure

Treasure hunters spend their lives researching, studying, and following clues in pursuit of some long lost buried treasure; some of which are only myths! We are to have that same passion in our pursuit of a greater treasure, more valuable than gold; knowledge (of God); wisdom; spiritual understanding; fear of the Lord.

Summary: Eccl 12:13 "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

Application: When Moses encountered God (the burning bush that was not consumed) on the mountain, God warned, Take your shoes off Moses; you’re on Holy ground. (See Eccl 3:1-6).

Matthew 18:20 tells us: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

So, if God is with us when we gather together, what should our attitude be? How should we act?

I don’t think we have to take our shoes off when we enter the church, as God commanded Moses to do on the mountain, but we should act as if God is there with us: because He is!

We can have fun, and laugh, and all of those things; as long as we do so with a proper respect for the Lord: who created the universe, has forgiven us of our sins, and is worthy to be praised!

With a proper respect for (fear of) the Lord, unbelievable things can (and will) happen in your life! Get ready!